9. Brigalow

Acacia harpophylla [Acacia = to sharpen (the first one named had spines and grows in Africa), harpophylla = scimitar (sword) shaped leaves]
One of our famous wattles, it is a tall tree with a silvery top and reputed to flower well when heavy rains are on the way. Sheep will eat the young suckers which appear after clearing. The wood, which supposedly smells of violets, is good fuel and makes charcoal. The bark has also been used for tanning, and also for dyeing wool and cotton in a red/brown colour. Aborigines used the wood for spears, nulla nullas, and boomerangs, as the timber is quite hard but not very durable. 'Brigalow Itch' a form of dermatitis affects some people in contact with this tree.
Brigalow is the host plant for three butterflies - Tailed Emperor, Felders Line Blue, and Daemels Blue the larvae of which are attended by ants; and this is the southern limit of this butterfly's range.
Look on horizontal branches for Tawny Frogmouths who nest in this area.
more about wattles
Family MIMOSACEAE

15. Wilga

Geijera parviflora [Geijera = after a Swedish botanist, parviflora = small flowers]
A small to medium size tree with a dense rounded crown and branches which hang to the ground unless they have been browsed by stock, when they have the appearance of being neatly trimmed. Leaves have a smell of peppermint when crushed. The flowers are small and white and produce a dark strong honey, and the seed pods are tiny, green, and open to show black seed. Spotted bowerbirds are fond of building their bowers in the protection of a wilga's hanging boughs. It is not certain that these birds are in the park, but they could be.
Family RUTACEAE

Some of the mistletoes which grow on wilgas are host to the Orchard Butterfly and the Nyza Jezebel butterfly.

19. Wild Orange

Capparis mitchelli [Capparis = of the caper family, mitchelli = after the explorer Mitchell]. Also known as Mitchell's Bumble-tree.
A shrub with leathery green leaves, and large delicate cream flowers with many stamens which only last for a day, and golf ball size fruit on a long stem which turns from green to dark brown, and has a smell of citrus. The shrub is grazed by stock, and Aborigines ate the fruit. The timber is white, hard and too small for anything but carving and engraving. The plant is host to the Caper White butterfly, and their larvae are green with tiny yellow dots. These butterflies are eaten by Blue Wrens. Other butterflies which use this tree as a host are:- Australian Gull, Chalk White, Common Pearl White, and the Narrow winged Pearl White.
Family CAPPARACEAE

23. Belah

Casuarina cristata [Casuarina = cassowary (branchlets resemble birds feathers), cristata = crested (seed cones)]
A tough tree with leaves that are tiny teeth on the green branchlets. The male and female flowers are different and not always on the one tree. The seed in small woody cones is an important source of food for the Glossy Black Cockatoo which is very specific in its foods. It is also the smallest of the black cockatoos, and uncommon. The Belah is a useful fodder tree for stock but can cause impaction. While it needs heavy rain to bring up seedlings, it does at times cause problems with suckering. The timber is dark brown, polishes well, makes good fence posts of moderate lifespan, and is good fuel.
Australian casuarinas are being planted in Egypt on drippers, in a revegetation project.
Family CASUARINACEAE

for more, see Belah [June 2010]